By Camille A. Aguinaldo
The Bureau of Customs (BoC) filed on Thursday, Aug. 16, five criminal complaints before the Department of Justice (DoJ) against alleged importers of smuggled sugar and illegal drugs.
Vecaba Trading owner Vedasio Cabral Baraquel was charged with violation of Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act for importing shabu or methamphetamine into the country.
According to the BoC, the shipment reportedly contained door frames but revealed upon inspection to contain two magnetic filters containing 355 kilograms of shabu estimated to be worth P2.4 billion.
On the other hand, the Customs agency also filed criminal charges against officers of Red Star Rising Corporation for smuggling sugar.
Customs official discovered last Aug. 9 that the corporation’s shipment declared in the manifest as packaging materials, kitchen utensils, and kraft paper turned out to be refined sugar worth P59.76 million.
It was also revealed that Red Star Rising Corporation had no import permits issued by the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA).

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